The last time Nick Hardwick was unable to start for the Chargers, it was because a clumsy Raider fell on his ankle in the 2009 opener. Hardwick has started all 69 games since his return late in the '09 season following ankle surgery.

He takes care of himself. And in a new way to boost fitness, the 32-year-old is "going Paleo" by eating a low-carb diet rich in protein and fats.

"I feel stronger than ever," Hardwick said this week, via 1090 AM's Darren Smith. "You've got to keep trying to do things to survive in this game, man. It’s hard out there.”

Give a listen to the entertaining interview, which could be titled, "Nick Hardwick's Amazing Food Odyssey."

Hardwick was an extreme eater as a Purdue student, telling Smith he gained 45 pounds the summer before he walked on to the football team. He told of frequent raids of meats and cheese at an undisclosed campus location.

"Hopefully, Purdue is not listening because they are going to want $2,000 of lunch meat back," Hardwick said.

A 195-pounder entering college, he left Purdue two inches taller and some 80 pounds heavier.

"I truly think I hit puberty twice in my life," he said.

Hardwick is combining fitness with charity this spring. He and Chargers teammates will appear at the first "Live Well San Diego 5K," May 31. Proceeds from the event, at Point Loma's Liberty Station, will benefit foster care and adoption programs.

On the topic of running, Hardwick claims to see improvement from Philip Rivers, whose gait has inspired teasing from teammates over the years. In 2009, guard Kris Dielman famously likened Rivers to a giraffe for his open-field rush into the end zone.

Hardwick said Rivers is "becoming more athletic" as he moves into his 30s. "It's incredible to see," he said.